Xavi: Pep Guardiola will support Barca

Xavi Hernandez declared that Pep Guardiola, the manager elect of Bayern Munich, would be supporting former team Barcelona when the two teams clash in the first leg of Champions League semi-final at the Allianz Arena later today.

Guardiola, who is currently on a year-long vacation, spent four successful seasons as Barca boss, but in January agreed to take charge of newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, this summer.

Xavi told to reporters on Monday evening at the official UEFA press conference: “He will enjoy the tie, as the cule (In Spain, ‘Cule’ means Barcelona fan) he is, he will be wanting Barcelona to win, I imagine, even though he has a future at Bayern. As a big football fan, he will enjoy a semi-final like this a lot.”

Barcelona’s prospects of success in the semifinal depends on fitness of Lionel Messi, with the Argentine star expected to return from a thigh injury just in time to start his first competitive game since April 2 against the mercurial Bavarian side.

Xavi also touched upon the fitness of Messi, assuring Barcelona fans that he would have no problem getting straight into the rhythm in a match of such high magnitude.

“For us to be able to count on the best player in the world is fundamental,” he added. “He makes the difference in any game he plays. He has huge motivation to play after ten or 15 days out. I am sure we will see his best version – these games motivate you a lot and he will show how great he is.”

Barca needed a half-fit Messi to come off the bench during their quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, to rescue the goal needed to send them to semi-finals on away goals.

Xavi even-though accepted that his side had not been as impressive as Bayern Munich to date but, given Barca’s pedigree in this competition in recent seasons, their semi-final is evenly matched.

He said: “We are not going there as victims, I believe the tie is at 50/50. Bayern are a great team, in a spectacular moment of form. They have reached this point more comfortably than we have. But Barcelona is Barcelona: we have spent years imposing our hierarchy in Europe. We will try to be protagonists in the game. We have been to six semi-finals in a row, and this is where we want to be.”